Ellen Ripley named greatest movie hero

March 15th, 2013

Ellen Ripley has been named the greatest movie hero.

Sigourney Weaver's iconic character in the 'Alien' franchise topped Total Film magazine's poll of the 100 greatest movie heroes, beating James Bond and Batman, while 'Star Wars' antagonist Darth Vader was named the ultimate movie villain.

Total Film deputy editor Jamie Graham said: ''Ellen Ripley is simultaneously tough and tender, nurturing and pitiless, and it's a measure of her durability - in every way - that she's beaten the boys to land the title of the greatest hero in cinema history.

''Darth Vader, meanwhile, overcomes an asthmatic wheeze and paternal hankerings to emerge as the iconic bad guy, both cool and terrifying.''

Other terrifying screen baddies who made the top 10 ultimate villains countdown include Batman's arch nemesis The Joker, most recently played by the late Heath Ledger, Javier Bardem's murderous Anton Chigurh in 'No Country for Old Men' and 'Superman' antagonist General Zod.

The full list of 100 greatest movie heroes and villains, compiled by the contributors of Total Film magazine, can be seen in the latest issue.